Art by Amelia Giller

Election szn is here, and this year NYers can vote a whole 2 weeks early (!!). Although it’s an “off-year” election for NYC, with only one citywide office seat on the ballot, there're still important decisions to be made with your vote. This week, we’re diving into the 5 ballot propositions on the 2019 ticket and giving you the facts you need to be informed at the polls.

Think you know a New Yorker who could use these election pro-tips? Fwd them this memo!

5 ballot proposals are up for a vote. They are the product of a 15-member Charter Commission appointed by a collection of local electeds tasked with reviewing and proposing changes to the city’s constitution. After many months, public meetings, & debates, a host of proposals was whittled down to the 5 you’ll see on your ballot next week. Two memos ago, we got gushy over proposal numero uno: Ranked Choice Voting ( here's a refresher), which will have a HUGE impact on how we elect future reps.

But wait! There's more. Proposal 2 would give the Civilian Complaint Review Board—an agency tasked with reviewing complaints against the NYPD—increased investigatory & oversight power. Prop 3 covers a new time limit on when former city electeds and staff can lobby the city, a mayoral office for the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise program, and other amendments related to govt ethics. Prop 4 concerns the city budget; its most accessible proposal is to give Borough Presidents and the Public Advocate a guaranteed budget. Prop 5 gives Community Boards more time to review rezoning and land-use projects.

With low turnout expected next week, your vote will matter BIG TIME.

—VOTE EARLY! Find your polling site & hours of operation HERE.

—VOTE SMART! The Broad Room is VOTING YES on Props 1 + 2. The others are a mixed bag. Here are some further resources: WFP, NYT, Gothamist

—Want more? Swing by TONIGHT’s info session hosted by the Charter Revision Commission & various other womxn's civic empowerment orgs. RSVP required.